Sinn Féin motion to demand X case legislation

DÁIL MOTION:Sinn Féin is to bring forward a Dáil motion in Private Members’ time next week demanding that the Government “immediately introduce legislation to give effect to the 1992 judgment of the Supreme Court in the X case”.

Party leader Gerry Adams said the death of Savita Halappanavar had “underlined in the most tragic way possible the need for long overdue legislation on the termination of pregnancy where a woman’s life is in danger”.

The motion is to be discussed between 7.30pm and 9pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a vote taking place on Wednesday evening.

The Government normally tables a counter-motion of its own and this receives precedence in the vote.

The Sinn Féin motion calls on the Government to “immediately publish the report of the expert group” and to “immediately introduce legislation to give effect to the 1992 judgment of the Supreme Court in the X case, to protect pregnant women where their lives are in real danger and to give legal certainty to medical professionals”.

“There are strong and sincerely held views across Irish society and in all political parties, including Sinn Féin, on the issue of abortion,” Mr Adams said.

“But this is not about the broader issue of abortion. It is about specific cases where a woman’s life is at risk and where medical practitioners are tasked with making medical judgments without legal protection.”